Digital camera having a touch pad

Abstract

A digital camera is disclosed herein. An embodiment of the digital camera comprises a display, wherein previously captured images are displayable on the display when the camera is in a first mode. Images of scenes that are capturable by the camera are displayable on the display when the camera is in a second mode. A touch pad is located proximate the display. Contact of a stylus on the touch pad causes the display to display different previously captured images when the camera is in the first mode. At least one icon representative of at least one function is displayable on the display when the camera is in the second mode. Contact by a stylus on the touch pad proximate the icon causes the at least one function to activate.

1 . A digital camera comprising: 
 a display, wherein previously captured images are displayable on said display when said camera is in a first mode and wherein images of scenes that are capturable by said camera are displayable on said display when said camera is in a second mode; and    a touch pad located proximate said display;    wherein contact by a stylus on said touch pad causes said display to display different previously captured images when said camera is in said first mode; and    wherein at least one icon representative of at least one function is displayable on said display when said camera is in said second mode, and wherein contact by a stylus on said touch pad proximate said icon causes said at least one function to activate.    
   
   
       2 . The digital camera of  claim 1 , wherein said stylus comprises a human body part.  
   
   
       3 . The digital camera of  claim 1 , and further comprising at least one light proximate said touch pad.  
   
   
       4 . The digital camera of  claim 3 , wherein said at least one light is located between said display and said touch pad.  
   
   
       5 . The digital camera of  claim 3 , wherein said at least one light is located adjacent a portion of said touch pad that activates said at least one function.  
   
   
       6 . The digital camera of  claim 3 , wherein said at least one light is illuminatable when said at least one icon is displayed.  
   
   
       7 . The digital camera of  claim 3 , wherein said at least one light is illuminatable when said at least one function is activated.  
   
   
       8 . The digital camera of clam  1 , wherein said at least one exposure function comprises at least one member of the group consisting of aperture size, exposure time, contrast, color balance, gain, exposure compensation, flash, zoom, and delayed capture.  
   
   
       9 . The digital camera of  claim 1 , wherein said contact by said stylus comprises sliding said stylus on said touch pad.  
   
   
       10 . The digital camera of  claim 1 , wherein said contact by said stylus comprises tapping said stylus on said touch pad.  
   
   
       11 . The digital camera of  claim 1 , wherein said camera is in said first mode if said stylus is slid on said touch pad and wherein said camera is in said second mode if said stylus is pressed on said touch pad.  
   
   
       12 . The digital camera of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one icon is text.  
   
   
       13 . The digital camera of  claim 1 , wherein at least one second icon representative of at least one second function is displayable on said display when said camera is in said second mode.  
   
   
       14 . The digital camera of  claim 13 , wherein said at least one second icon is displayable proximate said touch pad.  
   
   
       15 . The digital camera of  claim 13 , wherein said at least one second function is activated when said touch pad is contacted.  
   
   
       16 . The digital camera of  claim 1 , and further comprising at least two touch pads.  
   
   
       17 . A method of viewing images stored on a digital camera comprising: 
 causing said digital camera to enter a first mode wherein at least one previously captured image is displayed on a display portion of said digital camera; and    moving a stylus on a touch pad portion of said digital camera, wherein said moving causes at least one second previously captured image to be displayed on said display portion;    wherein images that may be captured by said digital camera are displayed on said display portion when said digital camera is in a second mode.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said moving of said stylus on said touch pad causes one said at least one second image to be displayed.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said moving of said stylus on said touch pad causes a plurality of images to be displayed sequentially on said touch pad during the period of said moving.  
   
   
       20 . A method of operating a digital camera comprising: 
 displaying at least one first image on a display portion of said digital camera when said digital camera is in a first mode;    displaying at least one second image on said display portion when said camera is in said first mode and upon movement of a stylus on a touch pad portion of said digital camera; and    displaying a image that is able to be captured by said digital camera on said display portion when said digital camera is in a second mode.    
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , and further comprising displaying at least one icon associated with at least one function on said display portion wherein contact by said stylus on said touch pad proximate said at least one icon activates said at least one function.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21 , and further comprising illuminating an indicator proximate said at least one icon.